Enhanced surface wettability of Ag:TiO2 heterostructured assembly using double step glancing angle deposition technique

Ag nanoparticles and TiO2 nanowires were fabricated to make Ag:TiO2 heterostructured assemblies using the double-step glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique. TiO2 nanowires and Ag:TiO2 heterostructured assemblies are prepared to compare the morphological, structural, and water contact angle (CA) measurements. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to analyse the growth and effective size of Ag nanoparticles and TiO2 nanowires. The x-ray diffraction (HRXRD) was carried out to analyse the crystalline size and micro lattice strain. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis has been performed to modify the surface roughness and corresponding surface roughness factor. The surface wettability of the prepared samples was evaluated by measuring the water CA. For bare TiO2 nanowires and Ag:TiO2 heterostructures based samples, the static water CA is 131.6 degrees and 81.6 degrees, respectively. Over a 60 min duration, water CA decreased from 131.6 degrees to 117.2 degrees for bare TiO2 nanowires and from 81.6 degrees to 29.6 degrees for Ag:TiO2 heterostructures. The sliding angles of 24.14 degrees and 33.36 degrees, the maximum friction force of 4.01 mu N and 5.39 mu N, along with the work of adhesion of 24.08 mN/m and 84.18 mN/m, has been calculated for bare TiO2 nanowires and Ag:TiO2 heterostructures, respectively. The Ag:TiO2 heterostructured assembly has a higher wettability conversion rate of 2.84 x 10(-6) degree(-1) min(-1) compared to the bare TiO2 nanowires (6.05 x 10(-5) degree(-1) min(-1)). As a result, all the improved parameters of the Ag:TiO2 heterostructured assembly have a high potential for the use of antifogging and smart surfaces application.